Colors & Patterns

Colors:TICA recognizes three different colors of coat within the Bengal species; Brown, Silver, and Snow, which has its own subtypes. The Brown Tabby color is the most common variety, with a spectrum of shades ranging from dark brown to light reds. The Silver coloration is the newest to be recognized, and occasionally contains strakes of brown called tarnish, which is regarded as undesirable in showing. The Snow coloration is divided in order of lightest to darkest as Seal Lynx, Seal Mink, and Seal Sepia. There are additional Bengal colors that are not yet recognized by TICA including Charcoal, Blue, and Black (melanistic).

Patterns:​The most famous and easily recognizable trait of a Bengal is the signature spotted pattern. The spotted pattern can come in a variety of shapes and colors. Bengals also come in a marbled pattern, which has random flowing swirls and stripes rather than the rosetted spots. The coat of the Bengal is also known for a trait called glittering, the shiny brightness of the tips of the fur in the sunlight. The fur does this because the end of the hairs are hollow, reflecting the light as it hits it.